Minor league coaching veteran Duane Ticknor returns to his previous role as assistant coach after serving as interim head coach for two games. Ticknor, who served as head coach of the Dakota Wizards for two seasons (2007-09), is in his second season with the Skyforce.

Ticknor guided the Wizards to the postseason in each of his two seasons in Bismarck, N.D. and his 2007-08 squad finished 29-21 to win the Central Division crown. In 2008-09 the Wizards defeated the Central Division champion Iowa Energy in the first round of the playoffs before falling to the Utah Flash in the league semifinals.

Ticknor spent time in the CBA as head coach of the Gary Steelheads (2002-05) and as an assistant coach of the Rapid City Thrillers (1989-92). The Vermillion, S.D. native was also the head coach for three IBA teams: Black Hills Posse (1995-99), Dakota Wizards (1999-00) and Siouxland Bombers (2000-01). The four-time Coach of the Year (‘96, ‘97, ‘98, ‘00) advanced to the IBA Finals three times and won the championship in 1997.

In addition to his professional experience, Ticknor also coached at the collegiate level. He compiled a regular season record of 139-66 in six seasons as head men’s basketball coach at National American University in Rapid City, S.D. He was inducted into the Rapid City Sports Hall of Fame in 1989 after his team advanced to the national tournament four times and won back-to-back national championships in 1987 and 1988.

Duane and his wife, Mary, reside in Chicago.